Forget the Hype: Here's What Makes the Ford Focus RS Really Tick

After my first drive in the Focus RS both on road and track, I was highly positive about Ford's shoutiest product, although I didn't go so far as calling it "god in hatchback form."

Frankly, I'm not too fussy when it comes to stiff suspensions, and after driving a Euro-spec Honda Civic Type R, the Focus felt like a totally usable daily driver in slow traffic. My list of negatives included the cheap interior and the clearly underbuilt all-wheel drive system that is highly likely to overheat once you start pushing the car on track. I also know that Ford's upgraded 2.3 liter Ecoboost engine gets ridiculously thirsty once you step on it. But even with that in mind, it's hard to argue with what Ford gives you for less than $40,000—especially in America, where the only real competitor is the much softer Volkswagen Golf R.

Now, it's time to dig a bit deeper into Ford's engineering. How did they manage to convert a front-wheel drive platform into all-wheel drive? What changes were needed to keep the drivetrain from overheating, and what couldn't fit the bill for this price? It's fast, I can tell you that, but is that enough?

Well, it should be enough, because it's a lot of fun at a reasonable price, and that's what you've been asking for.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Road & Track participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.